Need a Juice?

Juicing is a relatively recent health phenomenon, and it's one that I have become interested in. Some people love juice cleanses that last multiple days, while others just like a juice every now and then. I have done each, so I'm going to do a quick summary about my thoughts on both.

From my understanding, a juice cleanse serves to help detox the body. A typical person's diet consists of at least some processed foods. A juice is not processed, so it is better for the body. Your body does work to detox itself, but juices also allow you to consume more fruits and vegetables than you probably would in a normal day. By drinking a juice, your body gets the nutrients of the fruits and vegetables quicker. This is because your body does not have to break anything down; however, some nutrients are lost in the juicing process. I have only done a juice cleanse for a day at a time, and I'm not going to lie, it's rough. I've done them a few times and usually do it after I've been eating badly for an extended period of time (like after a vacation). If you decide to do a day (or two) long juice cleanse, you can either make them yourself if you have a juicer or buy them from a juice store, like Main Squeeze or Big Squeezy (if you're in Baton Rouge or New Orleans) or Well Fed (if you are in Shreveport). Juices are better when they are fresh, so try to find some fresh ones (such as ones from the stores I listed above) if you are buying them. A juice with an expiration date longer than a week from when you are buying is not the best since it's not as fresh. While juice cleansing can be a way to lose weight quickly, it is not sustainable, so I wouldn't recommend drinking juices as a way to lose weight but more as a way to get necessary nutrients to take care of your body.

On the other hand, drinking a juice occasionally does not fully cleanse your body like a day long cleanse would do, but it does provide you with quick access to many nutrients. Personally, if I'm drinking a juice, I like to start my day with it. My mom has a juicer, so many times when I'm at my parents' house, I make a juice in the morning. Whether it's just celery (not my preference but it's supposed to be really great for you) or whatever I can find in the kitchen, having a juice in the morning is a great way to give you the energy you need for the day. If you can't make a juice or find one to buy, simply eating a piece of fruit is good too. Whenever I make my juices, I typically just throw whatever I can find in the juicer if I think it'll be good. I like adding cucumber to any of my juices because cucumbers contain a lot of water. I also try to add ginger to all my juices when I make them since it is great for the immune system and has many other health benefits too. Below are some juice recipes that I found and some that I have made.

Recipe Ideas:

1) lemon, ginger, turmeric shot (option to add an orange or water to make it less bitter) -- great for an immune boost

2) apple, lemon, half an orange, cucumber, and some ginger

3) 2 carrots, apple, lemon, ginger, turmeric, and a little cucumber

4) apple, carrot, beet, and ginger (option to add lemon)

5) 2-3 stalks of celery, apple, lemon, ginger, and cucumber

Overall, drinking juice makes me feel better by giving me energy and the nutrients my body needs. Have you tried juices like these before? Do you like them or are you willing to give them a try if you haven't? Let me know in the comments!

~Cheers 🥂~